A thug left a man unable to recognise his own parents after a brutal attack in a row over a spilled drink.
Kyle Brummell was “minding his own business” when out with pals celebrating a birthday in Liverpool city centre when he was viciously attacked on June 11 last year.
But after a fight broke out, James Guy brutally knocked him unconscious, leaving him with life-changing injuries.
Kyle was forced to learn how to talk again, and nearly burned his house down thanks to a brain injury he sustained.
Liverpool Crown Court heard Joanne Moore, prosecuting, describe how the group, from Wigan, were "dancing, laughing and enjoying themselves" in Hardy's bar when one of their group - Mark Edwards - spilled his drink onto Guy.
The 37-year-old, of Bradfield Road in Crewe, responded by tipping his beer over Mr Edwards' head, The Liverpool Echo reported.
Mr Edwards was then seen on CCTV footage, which was played to the court, throwing an unknown object at the defendant.
Guy then punched Kyle in the side of his face, and the 35-year-old hit his head as he fell from the bar stool.
He then remained unconscious on the dancefloor for around 40 minutes and was only “revived” once he was rushed to Aintree Hospital.
The victim suffered "significant" swelling and a bleed on the brain, and was put on an incubator and remained in intensive care for two days.
Kyle would then spend four weeks in hospital after suffering the “life-changing” injuries.
Ms Moore said he had been "sitting minding his own business" at the time of the incident, adding: "This was an unprovoked attack on a person who he had never met before - it has had a massive effect and will likely have an effect for many more years to come.
“This was no doubt a day out which everybody was enjoying, but ended with life-changing injuries as a result of the defendant's actions."
In a statement read out to the court on his behalf, Kyle described himself as having previously been a "fit and healthy person" but said that "has all changed".
He said he was in a coma for a "number of days" afterwards, while it was a "number of weeks before he was able to put a sentence together" - requiring speech and language therapy to correct the issue - and "struggled to recognise his own parents".
The roofer was left unable to work due to the risk of falling from height and suffers from anxiety, depression and blurred vision.
He also has Tourette's syndrome, which he says has "got 100 times worse" since the incident while he has also developed new ticks.
His statement recalled one occasion on which he "almost burned his house down" as he forgot he was cooking food and only remembered once his mum had returned home.
Kyle added: "I don't believe I will ever make a full recovery. This is something I will have to live with for the rest of my life."
Guy left the premises following the assault, but later handed himself in at a police station after an appeal by Merseyside Police.
The married dad-of-two has no previous convictions.
Rosemary Proctor, defending, told the court: "Mr Brummell sustained a grave and life-changing injury and Mr Guy understands that. This is his first conviction.
"His friends and colleagues know him as a hard worker and a good husband and father. That has been his life, friends and family.
"Up until this offence, it can be said his contribution to the lives of others and society was wholly positive. Mr Guy is under no illusions as to the gravity of what he did that evening.
"That split second decision had devastating consequences and he is deeply ashamed. He doesn't intend to put himself in that situation again."
Guy admitted wounding without intent during an earlier hearing. He was handed a 21-month imprisonment suspended for 18 months and told to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 12 days and a 56-day alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement as well as being ordered to pay £275 in court costs.
Sentencing, Recorder Nicola Daly said: "All of you appear to have been enjoying your afternoon. Mr Brummell and Mr Edwards can be seen dancing and laughing.
"It appears there was much joviality ongoing. All that appears to have happened is somebody has accidentally knocked into you.
"That - within a minute, maybe less - has led to some obvious bad feeling. There may have been something thrown at you, but you lost your temper - whatever it was, you were not justified in going over and punching him to the floor.
"His injuries continue to have a massive impact on his life and are likely to for many years to come. This was impulsive and spontaneous, and is properly described as a short-lived assault.
"You are a man who is genuinely remorseful. But for that genuine remorse, you could have been going to prison."
